Pruning apparatus



June 14, 1960 J. F. wHlTMoRE 2,940,486

PRUNING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 19, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet l June 14, 1960 J. F. wHn'MoRE PRUNING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 19, 1957 JOHN F. WHIT MORE INVENTOR. HUEBNER, BEEHLER,

& WORREL ATTORNEYS mwa/ June 14, 1960 J. F. wHl'rMoRE 2,940,486

PRUNING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 19, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 53 JOHN F.wH|TMoRE INVENTOR. HUEBNER, BEEHLER, a woRREl.

ATTORNEYS Mmm United States Patent() PRUNING APPARATUS John F. Whitmore, Visalia, Calif., assigner of one-half to Richard Co., Woodlake, Calif., a partnership Filed Aug. 19, 1957, Ser. No. 678,863

9 Claims. (Cl. 143-43) The present invention relates to a pruning apparatus and more particularly to a mechanically operated pruning apparatus especially adapted for the mass or group pruning of trees, shrubs and the like.

Most fruit trees require prunning each year during their dormant period. Although citrus and olive trees require some pruning, deciduous fruit trees must be rather heavily pruned or the yield is impaired, the fruit size smaller, and the sale price reduced. In the past, pruning has been principally performed by using manually operated pruning shears augmented when needed by saws. lVhen performed manually, pruning has involved the removal of certain limbs on a selected basis to reduce the number of buds and to shape the tree. Such selective pruning permits the accommodation and adjustment to individual tree -requirements but the pruning cost has usually represented a very high percentage of the cost of production, sometimes even amounting to as much as one-half of such cost.

With deciduous trees, topping represents one of the foremost pruning jobs. This is done to reduce the tree height for more etlective spraying, to facilitate picking, to enable more sunshine to reach the inner parts of the tree, and to promote ventilation.

In addition, it has been found that the conventional rounded shape of trees is an impediment during spraying. Modern spraying equipment generally provides nozzles mounted on an oscillating boom which is directed upwardly toward the trees.. Quite frequently as the spray equipment travels along a row, the nozzles become entangled with the trees.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanically operated prunning apparatus.-

Another object is to reduce the costs oftree crop production.

Another object is to improve the yield, size, health and vigor of fruit trees by more ecient pruning.

Another object is to facilitate spraying and picking of fruit trees.

AAnother object is to prune trees in such a manner that the trees receive beneficial sunlight more easily and Ventilating air currents can pass through the trees more thoroughly.

Another object is to reduce the time and labor required for pruning a tree.

Another object is to provide an automatic apparatus for pruning the side and 4top of a tree simultaneously.

Another object is to provide a pruning apparatus which can be accommodated to the pruning load encountered.

'Ihese together with other objects will become more fully apparent upon the reference to the following description.

In the drawings:

Fig. lis a side elevation of the pruning apparatus embodying the principles of the present invention showing alternate positions of vertical and horizontal saws employed in dashed lines.

2,940,486 l Patented June 11K-l,r 19,60*T

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Fig. 2 is a' horizontal section taken" on line y2---2 o Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the pruning apparatus showing the horizontal saws in an upper position in full lines and a lower position in dashed lines.

Fig. 4 is ya top plan View of the pruning apparatus showing the horizontal saw boom in ra pruning position in full lines andY in alternate forwardly and rearwardly extended positions in dashed lines.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic sketch of an hydraulic system employed with the subject invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a substantially horizontal support frame 10 is provided and includes spaced, parallel longitudinal side frame members 11 and transverse, spaced, parallel, front and rear frame members 12 connected to the longitudinal members -in rectangular relation. The frame also provides a plurality of intermediate frame members 13 interconnecting the longitudinal frame members, and a pair of forwardly convergent draft members 14 terminating in a coupling hitch 15.

A substantially horizontal axle 20 is connected transversely beneath the frame 10, and a horizontal rear axle 21 likewise is connected beneath the frame rearwardly of the front axle. Ground engaging wheels 22 are rotatably journaled on opposite ends of the front and rear axles and support the frame for earth traversing movement along a predetermined line of travel parallel with the planes of the wheels. The wheels may be mounted to rise and fall independently relative to the frame so as to maintain the frame in substantially horizontal position at yall times, if desired.

A. substantially vertical, cylindrical mast 30 provides a lower portion 31 rigidly mounted centrally of the frame 10 and upwardly extended therefrom. The lower portion of the mast is an hydraulic cylinder. Elongated braces 32 are extended from rear corners of the frame convergently upwardly and are connected at an upper end of the lower portion of the mast for support thereof.r

A pair of vertically spaced substantially horizontal hinge plates 4i? are laterally extended from an upper end of the upper portion 33 of the mast 30, and gussets 41 extend between the mast and the hinge plates for additional support thereof. A substantially vertical connecting pin 42 is mounted in bearings 43 tted in the hinge plates for rotation about a' vertical, longitudinal The connecting pin provides upwardly and downwardly extended ends. A vertically disposed bushing 46 is also mounted between the hinge plates in concentric circumscribing relation to the connecting pin.v

A substantially horizontal elongated saw beam 50 includes an inner end 51 journaled for rotation on the bushing 46 and anpouter end 52 laterally outwardly extended from the mast, 30. `It will be evident that the horizontal saw beam is thus mounted on the mastrfor swinging movement in a horizontal plane around the vertical axis dened by the connecting pin or the bushing.

Spaced, vertical beam lugs 55 are outwardly extended from the saw beam 50, and similarly, spaced parallel mast lugs 56 are outwardly extended from the upper pori tion 33 of the mast 30 in the same planeas the beam lues-1f A11: 'hydraulicy beam betweenthe mast lugs by a pin `451. The ram also has a piston rod 62 reciprocal in the cylinder and releasably '.giyotally Connectedbtweenwibeam lues. by; agpin 63- Fluid conduits 65"a'nd Y'6o-are connectedY to opposite ends Y ofthe .cylinder for; extending and contracting the `piston `vA plurality of vertical saw shaftsk 70 are... journaled for rotation inr bearings4 7-1 mounted` in the saw beam 50.'VV The s aw shafts are inlongitudinallyrspaced relation andV .lieN along a'common stra-ight line Alongitudinallyof the beam. A pluralityl of substantially circularfhorizon-v tal` saws 72 of uniform diameter are mounted on lower endsVV of the saw .shaftswhichextend downwardly below thesjbeam. TheV horizontal saws thus have centers of rotationflocated -along a substantially straight line. They ar'eyalso located in a substantially common horizontal planetFrom referencev to Figs. 1,'13 alldfl it will be evident? that theperipheries of adjacent sawsarein adjacent, .closely spaced relation. The sawsv of course Vhai/efperipheral cutting teeth. Although not limiting, it hasV been found in practice that the horizontal saws are preferably approximately twenty-four inches inY diameter. The innermost Yand the intermediate saw shafts Vare provided with drive sheaves 73 whereas all of the shafts are providedwith driven sheaves 74. Pulleypbelts 75 inter-` connect a drive sheave on one shaft with a driven sheave on an adjacent shaft, as will be evident. A rnaster drive sheave 76 isrmounted on the upwardly extended endV of the connecting pin 42 for rotation therewith, and a mas- Vter.' pulley belt V'77 interconnects this sheave with theY driven 'sheave on the innermost saw shaft. A shield 80 ifsnuntedfon the, horizontal saw beam 50 and encloses the upwardly extended ends ofthesaw shafts, the con-` riec'ting pin 42, andthe sheaves. Y Y

A bracket S'Sisextended outwardly from an upper end ofthe upper portionV 33 of themast, and a substantially circular platform S6 is mountedv on the bracket by Yarms 87 for pivotal movement between asubstantially horizontal position, as shown in Fig..3 in full lines, and

' afdownwardly yextended position, as Yshown -in Fig. 3 in dashed lines.V VThe bracket and arms have4 apertures.

conduits 110 and 11'1 are connected to opposite ends of Athe cylinder 107 for extending and contracting Athepiston rod 108 whereby the boom `can be forwardly and rearwardly tilted or positioned inra precisely vertical manner in the same transverse plane asY the mast 30, all as indicated inFig. l.

An ,upright saw bar 116 is mounted on a horizontal plate 117 connected tothe upper end of the 'upper portion 99 of the boom 915..,7- The saw bar thus has an up-V wardly disposed end'l'lS and a kdownwardly extended d end 119, It is tor be understood that the saw baris which' register when the platform is horizontal and a Vlatclrpin VSf'is-.releasably sldably extendedlthrough theV apertures` forrholdingthe platform in horizontal position. PostsY 89 are upwardlyextended from theplatform, when considered in its, horizontal position, and guard hoops, 90' lencircle and are connected tothe posts.V vA ladder 9f2is. extendedv from the frame 10 upwardlyand has an4 upperfe'nd.connected-to the upper` end of the lower portion 31 ofthe mast,

An upright, elongated boom 9:5Y includes a lower portion 96 'mounted on the frame 10 adjacent to one of the longitudinal slide frame members 11. Specifically, the lowerportion offtheboomisfmounted for forward and rfearv'varjd"pivotall or; tiltingemovement -on a. horizontal pivotpir'i 97 supported in abraoket 98 securedY to the frame.v The boom` thuspivots around a substantially horizontal axisj'dened by the pivot pin. Further, the

lower 'portion of therboom isan hydraulic cylinder and in this respectis similar tothe lower portion 31 of the mast 7'30.n The vertical bQom also has an upperportion 99,'serving as a piston rod', and'being elevationally recip l rocal in the lower portion 96. `A piston 100-.is connected to the upper portion and longitudinally slidable infthe Y lowerrportion ofthe boom. A'uid conduit 101 is 'con-V the boom forwardly.'

rigidly connected to the upper. por'tiorroilthe boom so as to be elevationally, adjustable therewith and also forwardly and rearwardlytiltable with the boom. Preferably,'the saw bar isingspaced parallel relationrwith the boom.

A plurality of horizontal saw shafts are journaled in bearings 126 mounted in the'saw bar 116 in spaced relation' longitudinally ofthe-beam; along astraight line, similarly to ythevertical.saw shafts 70;v A plurality of substantially circular vertical saws, 127 ofruniform diam eter are secured to the ends ofthe shafts extended outwardly from the sawfbearnAandarelocatedin, a-substantiallygcommll vertical plane, asbestseenby reference tol Fig. 3. The, saws have cuttingA teeth; along` their peripheries, ,and the peripherieswv of adjacent saws fare: in adjacent closely spaced relation. Although not limiting, vertical saws of approximately thirteen inch diameters are found to suit theppurposeexcellently. Itis, to be noted that thei verticalsaw diameter isV about one-halfY the, horizontal blade diameter. AllVA of the shafts 125. have driven sheaves 128 connected to.V their inwardly extended ends, and the uppermost and intermediate shafts have drivesheaves 129. Pulley belts 130- interconnect the driveand drivenlsheavesV ofriadjacent shafts.

A gearbox v1-35 mounted on the plate 117andprovides a vertical input shaft 136. The uppermost'horizontal saw shaft 125. is connected toI the gear box and Yconstitutesran output shaft thereof: having connectiontothe input shaft 136 through appropriate bey/el gears 137 connected to' therespective shaftsj y With Vparticular reference, to-Figs. 2 1. and 15, anhydraulis 9.1119111359 is mounted on theframe 10 forwardly 0f the: mast f30- and provides a rearwardly extended;v4 driven Shaft-.140iV .A drivepulleylll Yand@Y driven p1111ey-142 are Sentieri-10 fhegdrven. -Shaftn-.adiacent longitudinally SpacdrelatiOH- Asn-11pm ,rssrvoirzlf isalsozmwnted on the frame1 adjacent -to the pump,V andV a: iuidconduit 144 interconnects the pump vand the ,sump; 1

' Thehydreulisi System, best Seen, in., Fig'. 5f furtherY i11- cludes a saw beamcontroflvalve1ft6 having connection to the beam-V controlfam 58LbyL means of; conduits,- 65 and`66 and to the pump `139 and the sum-p 143' by uid. conduits 148 and1149, respectively. VThe beam control valve has an extend positionfconnecting the pump` to conduit 65 and the sumpftoconduit 66 toswingthesaw beam 50 forwardly and a retract position connecting. theA pump to-conduit 66 andgthe sump to conduit 65,:vto swing the, beam/rearwardly.

A tilt control. valve 151 is also employedhaving connection to the tilt control ram 106 by meanslof-conduits 110 and 111; Crtduitsl/IS?.l and 153- connect the valve 151 to the'pump 13 9 and`tothe Vsump` 1f1 3, respe'ctively, 'so thatV Viria/.tri extendfpositionvof the; valve, the pump iswconnect'ed tocofnduit 111: land .the sump to conduit' 1710l to' tilt theuboom' rearwardly" and in a retract position ofthe valve, the'connect-ions areV reversedto'tilt 'Furthn a mast control valve 160 is connectedY tothe lower portion 31 'of thermast 30 by condnitgand-to the prima 13.9 .and the ysim-lp why4 cent1' is', 16x-and 162. [The mastfcontrolvalvehas itwoposi ons; inlone,

and inthe other, they conduit 36'connectsfto vthe bleed iluid back to the sump under weight of the mast whereby the mast is lowered.

Still further, a boom control Valve 164 is connected to the lower `portion 96 of the boom 95 by conduit 101 and to the pump 139 and the sump 143 by means of conduits 165 and 166, respectively. In one position the valve 164 connects the conduit 165 and the conduit 101 to raise the boom and in a second position, the conduit 101 is connected to the sump to allow weight of the boom to bleed duid back to the sump whereby the boom is lowered.

With particular reference to Fig. 3, brackets 170 are connected to the lower portion 31 of the mast 30 and rotatably mount a mast control rod 172 and a beam control rod 173 in upright positions alongside of the mast.

The control rods have upwardly and downwardly extended' ends. Levers 175 are individually rigidly radially extended from the downwardly extended ends of the rods. Elongated links 176 pivotally interconnect the levers and arms 177 individually connected to the mast control valve 160 and to the beam control valve 146. When the rods are rotated in one direction, the valves to which they are respectively connected are moved to one position, as above described, and when rotated in an opposite direction, they are moved to a second position, also de scribed above. Preferably elongated, releasable, telescopic keys 178 and 179, illustrated in Fig. 4, are tted on the upper ends of the rods 172 and 173 and extended upwardly for manipulation from the platform 86.

An internal combustion engine 185 is mounted on the frame on the opposite side from the boom 95 and provides an output shaft 187 on which is mounted a drive pulley 189. A differential 195 is also mounted on` the frame 10, to the right of the mast 30 as viewed in Fig. 3, and provides an input shaft 196 on which is mounted an input pulley 197. A pulley belt 198 is extended around the drive pulley 141 and the input pulley 197, and a belt tightener 198', best seen in Fig. 3, is provided for tightening and loosening the belt. The differential also has a downwardly extended output drive shaft 199 for the horizontal saws 72 and a downwardly extended output drive shaft 200 for the vertical saws 127. A pulley 202 is mounted on the shaft 200.

A telescopic beam connecting rod 206 non-circular in cross section, preferably square, includes a lower section 208 releasably connected to the horizontal saw output shaft 199 by a universal joint 211 and an upper section 209 telescopically slidable in the lower section and connected to the connecting pin 42 by a universal joint 211.

A coupling shaft 220 is mounted in the frame 10 in a vertical position laterally adjacent to the differential 195 and has a lower end, on which is mounted a pulley 221, and an upwardly extended end.v A pulley belt 223 isv releasably extended around the pulleys 202 and 221.

A telescopic bar connecting rod 226 also non-circular in cross section has a lower section 227 connected to the upwardly extended end of the coupling shaft 220 by a universal joint 231. The rod 226 further includes an upper section telescopically slidable in the lower section and connected by a universal joint 231 to the input shaft 136 of the gear box 135.

Operation pruning site, the pin 63 is removed and the horizontal saw beam 50 swung into a transporting position, as viewed in Fig. l in dashed lines, in longitudinal alignment with the line of travel of the frame. Further, during transportation, the latch pin 88 is removed andthe platform allowed to drop into downwardlyextended position,` as viewed in Fig. 3 in dashed lines.

The apparatus is stopped somewhat in advance of a tree for preliminary adjustment. The pin 63 is inserted to connect the beam controlram 58 to the beam 50, and the pin 88 is inserted to place the VVplatform 86 in horizontal position. With pulley belt'198 slackas adjusted by the belt tightener 19S', the engine 185 is started. This energizes the pump 139 but does not rotate the saws 72 and 127 since the pulley belt 198 is loose. 'Ihe boom control valve 164 is adjusted to elevate lthe boom so that the vertical saws 127 at least extend slightly above and below the upper and lower edges of the tree. The tilt control valve 1517is `then adjusted to tilt the boom 95 and the saw bar 116 slightly forwardly.

Next, an operator ascends the ladder 92 and mounts the platform 86. The mast control rod 172 is then rotated by the key 178 to raise the mast 30 so the plane of the horizontal saws 72 is adjusted to the desired pruning plane of the tree 250. The platform, being at the uppermost end of the mast, keeps the operator above the tree tops at all times. Then the beam control rod 173 is rotated by the key 179 to swing the horizontal saw beam 50 into a pruning position extended outwardly in substantially right-angular relation to the line of travel of the frame 10. The frame is initially positioned so that the peripheries of the innermost and the outermost saws 72- extend slightly beyond a side and the middle, respectively, of the trees. In other Words, the horizontal saws extend inwardly by at least one-half the width of the tree.

Several features regarding the horizontal and vertical saws 72 and 127, respectively, are to be noted. When the horizontal saws are in the pruning position described in the preceding paragraph,'the plane of the vertical saw is spaced slightly inwardly of the periphery of the innennost horizontal saw and is perpendicularly related to the gang of horizontal saws. When the elevation of the mast 30 and boom 95 are correct for pruning operations, the periphery of the uppermost vertical saw slightly overlaps, that is extends above, the plane of the horizontal saws.

Although only the beam 50 and the mast 30 are specilically described as being controllable from the platform 86, it is to be clearly understood that the boom 95 and tilt control ram 151 could also be controlled from the platform. In such a case it would only be necessary to provide control rods, keys, levers, links and arms for the valves 151 and 164 connected and arranged similar to the elements numbered 170 through 179.

With all of the initial adjustments made and the pulley belt 198 tightened, the frame 10 is pulled or other- Wise moved down the row of trees 250. Both the horizontal and the vertical saws 72 `and 127 -are rotatably driven by the engine through the differential 195, the connecting rods 206 and 226, and the various pulley belts and sheaves 73 through 77 and 128 through 130. Preferably, the horizontal saws are rotated at approximately 1500 revolutions per minute whereas the vertical blades are rotated at approrimately 3000 revolutions per minute. These speeds are not limiting but it is to be noted that the vertical saw speed is preferably approximately twice the horizontal saw speed. The saws engage the sides and top of the ltree and cut it along two right-angularly related planes so that one side of each tree is squared olf. The apparataus is moved down one side of a row and up the other so that bothsides of the trees are squared. Because the horizontal saws extend beyond the. middle of `the trees, two sweeps on opposite sides of the trees give them at tops, and lof course, dat sides.

The vertical saws 127 are preferebly forwardly tilted so that the failling limbs cut by the uppermost saws 127 do not drop onto the lower vertical saws and become 'therrowst limbsfand branches, andleaving only larger, limbs, itY

i pruning crew.

Ientangled-iwithV them.V If the cuttingloadrf'on the saws `o`rf127 becomesjso ,excessive that their'pi'eferred speed drops Vor they stop 'completelyyit may be necessary 'to f stopthe apparatus fand, to back fol'fthesawsf. QThis isV f fdon'e, forY example, by turning thebeam'controlrod 173 lithe'gltform 86 by 'vtlie'lirey 179 to Vcontract:rant '58 fandtofswing the` beattirearwardly.Y The beam'is then V ofscillatedaback and forth Yto ease the. saws through the Y ytroublesome limbs'. 'lliisconstitutes an important .pracvtica'l'feature of lthe invention' sinceY otherwise the described movement would haveto-be attempted by moving the frameY 10 back and forth, hardly. neffectivesolution for ftlieQsamelpurpose by. the tiltcontrol ram d.VY f From th'e foregoingfitwill lj'e evident that a highly versatile,'easy-temperate, meohanical Vpru'ning` apparatus 'ha'sbeen'providedi Althoglrsone trees still needfhand .pruning rl?,artieularly internal pruning, `after being` worked tofthelproblcm. "Phe vertical saws Ycaifalsobe Voscillated Y upobyf'thesubject Vinvention,nthe latterA Yaccomplishes afinajor portion ofA the task..v Vinprac'ticethe. apparatus has beenfound particularly useful, for example, onV dor# mailt ,deciduous andflive'l citrous wood.' ,TheY squared Y shape obtined'has several advantages, namely, Vitfprovids a uniform shape particularlyadvanta'geou's'for pest control. Y The flattened tree'sidesina row'of trees Ymay be compared to asmoothwall against'which the insecticides caribeV sprayed from oscillating. boomsv traveled .between Further,v byrcutting oif the exterior? smaller Although Vthe invention has beenherein shownjan'd described in, what isvconceived to-rbethe most practical Vand preferred embodiment, lit is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within. the scope of theinventiomhvvhichA is not to be lirmted ,to the details disclosed hereinbut is to be accorded thefullscopc oftheclaims YVso, as toembrace any and all erprlivale'ntdevicesand,ap-l

paratus.

Having described myV invention, what I claimjast-new and desiregto secure by Letters Patent'is: 4 Y' 1. Apruningapparatus Comprising -a frame mounted forv ,earthv traversing movement along a predetermined line of travel, a mastupwardly extended from the frame, a-beam mountedonfthe mastand extended outwar l'y therefrom transversely ofsaid line of travel, a gang of circularfsaws ofsubstantially uniform diameter, means individually mounting the saws in the'beam for rotation about substantially erect axesand locating the sawsv in Va substantially common horizontal plane, the saws havingcenters of rotation positioned along a substantially straight line disposed longitudinally of the beam with the peripheries of kadjacent saws in adjacent spaced relation,

. and powered means. mounted on the frame and connected to the saws for imparting simultaneous rotation to thejsaws.

2. -A pruning apparatus comprising a frame mounted for` earth `traversing' movement along a predetermined line'of travel, a mast fupwvardlyl extended from. the frame, a substantially horizontal beam mounted on the Vmast for Vhorizontal,oscillating movement and laterally outwardly extended from' saidv line of travel, meansYinterconneetiugV thefmjast'and the beamgforjoscillating,the beam forward;

ly 4and rearwardly a `position substantially normal'fto ,line o ftrarfel,l a' gang of cirular'sawsof substantially 'Y uniform diameter rotatably mounted in Vthe beam forrotation'about Vsnbstantially erect axes andlocated in a `sufostantily 'common horizontal plane, .theV saws having ..7 Y@wijn-ils".ofjrotationl positioned 'along Va substantially disposed t longitudinally of thev beam 'with-` the, peripheries ofA adjacentsawsin spaced relation, and

powered means mountedon thel frame and. con'nestedY to the saws for imparting simultaneousfrotationtolthesws. f' 3.V A pruning apparatus comprising a Aframey mounted lfor Yearth traversing', movement along, aV predetermied line of travel, arnast upwardly Vextending:from thefraine, a substantially horizontal beam' mounted on the mas'ttfor adjustable movement between a transporting position disposed longitudinally of said line of travel and ari-opeiating position transversely disposedto saidline of;travel, means interconnecting the beam and the mast forv holding the beam in saidV operating positiom aV gang of circular saws of substantially uniform diameter rotatably mounted -in the beam for'rot'ation about substantially erect axesv and located'in a substantially connnonjhorizontal plane, the saws having *centersY of' rotation posiQ tionedlalong a substantially straight line disposed longitudinally of the beam Vwith the peripheries of V"adjacent saws in spaced relation, andpowered Vmeans mountcdon the frame andconnected to the saws for'imp'arting simul taneous rotation to the saws.-

4. A'pruningapparatus comprising a framer mounted forY earth traversing Amovement along a lpredetermine'cl line of travel, a telescopic, elevationally adjustable mast upwardly extended from the frame, powered means mounted on the frameand connectedto the mast for raising and loweringY the mast, Va beam mounted onlthe mast and extended outwardly therefrom transverselyY of said line of travel, a gang of circular saws of substantially -uniform diameter rotatably mounted in the beam for rotation about substantially erect axes and located in, a substantially common horizontal plane, the saws having centers of rotationV positioned along a substantially straight line disposed longitudinally of the beam with the peripheries of adjacent saws in adjacentspaced' relation, and powered means mounted on the'. frame and connected tov the s-aws for imparting simultaneous rotation to the saws. f r 5.' A pruning apparatus comprising avframemounted forY earth traversing movement forwardly and ,rearwardly in a predetermined line of travel along'a row of trees,1a telescopic, hydraulically elevationally adjustable mast .upwardly extended from the il'ame,-a` saw beam mounted on the mast forpivotal movement between' a longitudinally extended transporting position andY a-"pruning "position extended outwardly of the frame transversely of said'line of travel into tree engagement andlbeing oscillatableV in ,the pruning position, an hydraulic beamV control ram interconnectingV the Ymast and the beam forcontrollably oscil lating the beam, a g'angof circularv sawsofsubstantially uniform diameter rotatably mounted inthe beamfo ro'taf to the saws for imparting simultaneous rotation to the saws; the control ram being adapted to swing the. beam forwardly and rearwardly of its Vpruningpositionto ac.- commodate the saws to the cutting load duringeng' =.ge ment of the saws with the trees.

6. A pruning apparatus .forsimultaneously pruning the Y side and top of Ya tree comprising a frame mounted for ing centersY of A-rota'tionlocated along' a substantiallyearth traversingl movementalong;a` row oftrees-in a predetermined; line of travel, ay mast Vupwardly extended from the'frame, a beam Ymounted on thevmarst 'andfextended outwardly therefrom transverselyfoffsaid line-'of travel, a: gang of horizontal circular saws'of ,substantiallyA Yuniform diameter rotatably, Y mounted 1 the b` Y Y Y t f rotation .about substantiallyrerect faxes andfbeiri located in-'a Vsubstantially common horizontal plane, thel'sw's' hav# straight line ,longitudinally ofthe beam `,with the cries rof adjacentvsaws in adjacent'spacedrelationa saw bar, means mounting the saw bar in a position upwardly extended from the frame adjacent to the mast, a gang of vertical circular saws of substantially uniform diameter rotatably mounted in the vertical saw beam for rotation about substantially horizontal axes and being located in a substantially common vertical plane, the vertical saws having centers of rotation positioned along a substantially straight line disposed longitudinally of the vertical saw beam with the peripheries of adjacent saws in adjacent spaced relation, the vertical and horizontal gangs of saws being overlapped so that the combined action of the saws provides pruned top and side tree surfaces meeting in a substantially sharp edge, and powered means mounted on the frame and connected to the horizontal and vertical saws for imparting simultaneous rotation to the saws.

7. A pruning apparatus for simultaneously pruning the side and top of a tree comprising a frame mounted for earth traversing movement along a row of trees in a predetermined line of travel, a mast upwardly extended from the frame, a beam mounted on the mast and extended outwardly therefrom transversely of said line of travel, a gang of horizontal circular saws of substantially uniform diameter rotatably mounted in the beam for rotation about substantially erect axes and being located in a substantially common horizontal plane, the saws having centers of rotation located along a substantially straight line longitudinally of the beam with the peripheries of adjacent saws in adjacent spaced relation, a saw bar, means mounting the saw bar in a position upwardly extended from the frame adjacent to the mast for forward and rearward pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis, powered means mounted on the frame and connected to the saw bar mounting means for pivoting said bar forwardly and rearwardly, a gang of vertical circular saws of substantially uniform diameter rotatably mounted in the vertical saw beam for rotation about substantially horizontal axes and being located in a substantially common vertical plane, the vertical saws having centers of rotation positioned along a substantially straight line disposed longitudinally of the vertical saw beam with the peripheries of adjacent saws in adjacent spaced relation, the vertical and horizontal gangs of saws being overlapped so that the combined action of the saws provides pruned top and side tree surfaces meeting in a substantially sharp edge, and powered means mounted on the frame and connected to the horizontal and Vertical saws for imparting simultaneous rotation to the saws.

8. A pruning apparatus comprising a frame mounted for earth traversing movement along a predetermined line of travel; a mast upwardly extended from the frame; a beam mounted on the mast and extendedoutwardly therefrom transversely of said line of travel; a gang of circular saws of substantially uniform diameter rotatably mounted in the beam for rotation about substantially erect axes and being located in a substantially common horizontal plane, the saws having centers of rotation positioned along a substantially straight line disposed longitudinally of the beam with the peripheries of adjacent saws in adjacent spaced relation; an operators platform; means mounting the platform adjacent to the upper end of the mast above the plane of the saws; powered means mounted on the frame and connected to the saws for mparting simultaneous rotation to the saws; and a control rod mounted in the frame, extended upwardly adjacent to the operators platform, and connected to the powered means for enabling control of the powered means at the operators platform.

9. A pruning apparatus for trimming the tops of trees arranged in rows in an orchard so that said tree tops are substantially flattened comprising a support frame, means mounting the frame for earth traversing movement forwardly and rearwardly along a predetermined line of travel adjacent to a row of trees, an erect, telescopically adjustable mast including a lower portion mounted on the frame and an upper portion upwardly and downwardly extendible and retractible relative to the lower portion, vertically spaced hinge plates extended from the upper portion of the mast laterally of said line of travel, an erect pivot pin rotatably journaled in the hinge plates, a bushing fitted between the hinge plates around the pin, an elongated substantially horizontal saw beam having an outer end and an inner end rotatably journaled on the bushing for movement of the saw beam between a transporting position in substantial longitudinal alignment with said line of travel and a pruning position outwardly extended from the frame transversely of said line of travel and in tree engagement, a plurality of substantially erect shafts journaled in the saw beam in longitudinally spaced relation and lying along a substantially straight line disposed longitudinally of the beam, circular saws of uniform diameter individually secured to the shafts below the beam for rotation in a substantially common horizontal plane to cut the tops of trees engaged thereby, driven sheaves individually secured to the shafts, drive sheaves individually secured to the shafts except the outermost shaft and to the connecting pin, pulley belts connecting drive and driven sheaves of adjacent shafts and the sheave on the connecting pin to the driven sheave of the innermost shaft, power means mounted on the frame having an upwardly disposed rotary output shaft below the connecting pin, an elongated rotatable telescopically adjustable connecting rodhaving upper and lower ends universally connected to the connecting pin and to the output shaft of the power means for imparting rotation to the saws, and an hydraulic beam control ram interconnecting the upper portion of the mast and the saw beam for swinging the beam slightly forwardly and rearwardly in said pruning position to accommodate the saws to their cutting load.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 40,235 Bolmer Oct. 13, 1863 1,397,365 Cook Nov. 15, 1921 1,645,924 Palmigiano Oct. 1S, 1927 1,710,749 Svendsgaard Apr. 30, -1929 1,875,561 Cirnto Sept. 6, 1932 2,299,129 Dickenson et al. Oct. 20, 1942 2,354,625 Van Sickle July 25, 1944 2,365,408 Hillyer Dec. 19, 1944 2,564,032 Roberton Aug. 14, 1951 2,630,628 Hall Mar. 10, 1953 2,633,636 Szostek Apr. 7, 1953 2,777,483 Cherem Jan. 15, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 170,948 Germany May 26, 1906 OTHER REFERENCES Popular Mechanics Magazine, February 1931, page 162. 

